The long series of self-immolations by Tibetans protesting repressive Chinese rule has saddened Buddhists and their friends worldwide. The Department of Religion and Culture of the Central Tibetan Administration has held a prayer service for the Tibetan self-Immolators reported the Central Tibetan Administration on April 18, 2014. This prayer service was meant to mourn and express solidarity with two Tibetans who have self-immolated in the last two months along with Tibetans who are undergoing intense suffering under China’s rule.

On March 29 Dolma, who was a 31-year-old Tibetan nun, set herself on fire to protest the Chinese government’s repressive policies. It is not certain where she is now or what her condition is. Than on April 14 32-year-old Thinley Namgyal died after he set himself on fire in Tawu county. These two self-immolations bring the total number of self-immolations to 130 with 112 deaths. The self-immolators have demanded the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet and freedom for all Tibetans.

Hundreds of Tibetans and their supporters attended the official prayer service which was organized by the Tibetan government in exile in India reports Phayul.com. Logon Trulku, the abbot of Gyuto monastery, presided over the prayer service. Tibetan Prime Minister Dr Lobsang Sangay attended the prayer service. He expressed the Central Tibetan Administration’s solidarity with the Tibetan self-immolators and those who are undergoing political incarceration in Chinese prisons.

Sangay noted that not one of the self-immolators have harmed a Chinese person or property. He has emphasized that although the Tibetan administration discourages such drastic actions as self-immolation these actions are nevertheless persisting primarily due to the continuing repression of Tibetan people under the brutal Chinese regime. This remains a very sad era for Tibetans and their Buddhist brothers and sisters worldwide.

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Harold Mandel is a freelance online reporter. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in psychology and an MD. Harold Mandel reports on Buddhism, Hollywood, Natural Health, Health, Politics, Business, and Sports for Examiner. Harold Mandel founded MandelNews.com.